Totem, tablet or QR: which solution fits your venue?
Digital ordering does not come in one shape. A totem at the entrance, a tablet on the table or a QR code on the guest's phone each solve different challenges. This article walks through all three approaches, their strengths and the questions that help you choose the right solution for your needs.
The totem: guests intrigued and informed right at the entrance
A digital totem at the entrance is not a till - it is the first contact with your story. While waiting for a table or still deciding whether to come in, guests browse the menu on a large screen with photos, prices and allergens - so they sit down already informed, with half the decision made. The time from sitting down to the first order shortens visibly, and upselling starts before a waiter has even approached: next to each dish the totem shows sides, desserts and special offers.
The totem is also your shop window: it highlights promotions, events and ads, and it can offer guests a table reservation through integrations with SevenRooms and OpenTable. The AI assistant builds a personalised recommendation for every guest based on their preferences - and everything, from the first screen to the reservation, happens in the language the guest chooses.
A tablet on the table: when guests sit down and stay
In table-service restaurants the tablet plays a different role: a menu to browse, another round of drinks ordered without hunting for the waiter's eye, and a bill that arrives when the guest decides. Guests feel in control, staff make fewer empty runs.
The tablet shines where the menu is rich and sales depend on recommendation: the AI advisor suggests a wine for the dish, flags allergens and does it all in the language the guest picks. The longer guests stay at the table, the more the tablet earns.
QR: the fastest start, zero hardware
A QR menu on the guest's phone is the simplest way into digital ordering: no devices to buy, maintain or charge. A QR code on the table is enough for guests to browse, order and pay from their own device.
That makes QR the natural choice for restaurants, terraces and bars, seasonal venues, hotel pools and any space where installing equipment would be impractical. The cost of the initial setup is the lowest, and the menu is the same one shown on the totem and the tablet.
Four questions that decide for you
- Do you have a board or a menu stand at the entrance? A totem carries every detail a board or stand never will.
- Do guests sit down and order several times per visit? Tablets and QR increase consumption.
- Is the space outdoors, seasonal or spread out? QR works without a single device.
In practice, the combination wins
Most venues end up choosing a combination rather than a single tool: a totem for the entrance, tablets and QR for the tables. The key is that all three share the same menu, the same prices and the same POS integration - so every change is entered once, in one place.
With Orderary, the totem, the tablet and QR are three faces of the same system, so you can build the combination gradually: start with QR or the totem and add tablets later.
Every venue is a story of its own, so treat the recommendations in this article as a guide. The best answer comes from a conversation about your space, your menu and your guests' habits.
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